Glen Ridge Public Schools

Glen Ridge, New Jersey 07028

Quality Assurance Annual Report

2007-2008 School Year

I. IMPLEMENTATION OF SCHOOL LEVEL PLANS [N.J.A.C. 6A:32-12-2]

A. The 2008-2009 school level objectives were developed at each school level and submitted to the Superintendent of Schools. (See Attachment A) The Superintendent submitted them to the Essex County Superintendent on September 3, 2008. The County Superintendent of Schools approved the objectives on October 6, 2008. (See Attachment B)

B. NOTE: These objectives were approved by the Glen Ridge Board of Education at their August 26, 2008 meeting.

C. All schools begin the school level implementation process during the first official faculty meeting of the school year which occurred on Wednesday, August 27, 2008. The Principals report monthly of their plan’s progress through their monthly school level report submitted to the Superintendent’s Office.

II. ACHIEVEMENT OF PERFORMANCE OBJECTIVES [N.J.A.C. 6A:32-12.2(a)3]

A. A full report of the achievement for performance objectives for the 2007-2008 school year has been submitted to the County Superintendent of Schools on September 3, 2008. (See Attachment A) NOTE: These objectives were approved by the Glen Ridge Board of Education at their August 26, 2008 meeting and the County Superintendent of Schools on October 6, 2008. (See Attachment B)

B. All benchmarks and performance standards have been met in all buildings as outlined in Attachment C.

III. NEW JERSEY SCHOOL REPORT CARD [N.J.A.C. 18A:7E-1 ET SEQ AND N.J.A.C. 32-12.2(a)1]

A. The school report cards for the 2006-2007 school year are attached as required (See Attachment D) The Report Cards are located on the district's web-site www.glenridge.org and are e-mailed to students’ homes.

IV. PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES [N.J.A.C. 6A:32-4.4(e)2]

A: Professional Development Links -The Glen Ridge School District is committed to providing its staff with high quality staff development focused on critical educational issues that are determined by yearly surveys of our teaching staff. Teachers are partially reimbursed for approved graduate course work. They are supported financially and with time in their participation in workshops outside the district, as well as given the opportunity to participate in state and national conferences. For the twelfth year, the Board of Education supported a team of teachers and administrators in their attendance at the National Conference for the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development held in New Orleans, LA in March 2008.

During the 2007-2008 school year, the district continued to provide its own Professional Development courses. (See Attachment E) Courses are offered both during the school year and in the summer in order to meet the expressed needs of teachers, the needs of our students, and the goals of the district. District personnel (teachers, staff, and administration) teach these courses. Teachers are provided on-site professional development specifically related to the implementation of new curriculum. The administrative team participates in professional development by attending workshops, conferences and teaching programs on topics of need and interest throughout the school year. We also conduct a new teacher orientation program that involves intense training prior to the start of school and monthly programs during the school year. Our students perform well above the state and national averages on all standardized tests as noted in our District Report Card and evidenced in our high ranking of number 5 in New Jersey Monthly Magazine as well as all state comparisons including DFG.

B: Professional Development Budget - Again, the district spent in excess of $47,702.45 for staff development during the 2007-2008 school year. This includes grant money in addition to district budgeted funding. A detailed list of district workshops, out-of-district workshops, and graduate courses taken during the 2007-2008 school year is attached. (See Attachment F) All workshops are geared towards district goals, the New Jersey Core Curriculum Content Standards, and/or the individual Professional Improvement Plan of the staff.

Graduate Courses - $14,609.00

Workshops and Conferences - $33,093.45

C: Professional Development Plan Approval -The Essex County Professional Development Board approved our 2007-2008 Professional Development Plan on March 27, 2008. (See Attachment G)

D: Local Mentor Plan - The Glen Ridge Board of Education implemented our existing mentoring plan which was Board approved on June 16, 2008 and continued its development to align it with the Professional Standards for Teachers and the mentoring regulations found in N.J.A.C. 6A:9-8 and submitted it to the County Superintendent on July 9, 2008. (See Attachment H) Our plan is fully implemented. The Glen Ridge School District submitted the District Mentoring Plan for 2008-2011 to the Essex County Acting Executive Superintendent on July 2, 2008 which was approved on July 9, 2008 for implementation in September 2008.

V. CONDITIONS OF SCHOOL FACILITIES [N.J.A.C. 6A:26 & 26A]

A. TEMPORARY SCHOOL FACILITIES APPROVAL [N.J.A.C. 6A:26-8]

The Glen Ridge Board of Education does not have any temporary school facilities.

B. COST OF MAJOR BUILDING PROJECTS/RENOVATIONS (2007-2008) [N.J.A.C. 6A:26-5]

· Exterior door replacement at Forest Avenue School $7,000

· Exterior door replacement at Ridgewood Avenue School $12,870

· Front steps of Ridgewood Avenue auditorium replaced

by donation from Home and Schools Association $26,000

C. COMPREHENSIVE MAINTENANCE PLANS (CMP) [N.J.A.C. 6A:26A]

Attached are the Comprehensive Maintenance Plans for the four school buildings in the district as approved by the Glen Ridge Board of Education on November 3, 2008. (See Attachment I)

D. STATUS OF LONG RANGE FACILITY PLAN [N.J.A.C. 6A:2.2(a)-7 & N.J.A.C. 6A:26-2.1-2.3]

The most recent LRFP was approved by the Board of Education on October 10, 2005 and a Final Determination of the LRFP from the Office of School Facilities Financing was sent on June 27, 2008. The Final Determination was accepted by the Board of Education on August 26, 2008. (See attachment J) There are 49 projects for all locations totaling $5,750,000 in the LRFP. Projects relating to Health and Safety/Capacity amount $3,064,000 and the balance of $2,686,000 related to other local objectives. Of these 49 projects, 16 have been completed.

E. MAXIMUM CAPITAL RESERVE AMOUNT [N.J.S.A. 18A:7G-31, N.J.A.C. 6A:26-9.1 (d)]

Attached is the certified resolution for the district’s maximum capital reserve amount. (See Attachment K)

F. STATUS OF REQUIRED ANNUAL HEALTH AND SAFETY REVIEW [N.J.A.C. 6A:26-6.1, 6.2, 12; 6A:19-10]

Building inspections were conducted during the 2007-2008 school year by the Supervisor of Buildings and Grounds, the Building Principals, the Business Administrator, as well as members of the Board of Education during their yearly district-wide facility inspections. The checklist report, Indicator 7.6 “Evaluation of Buildings and Grounds”, was used as the inspection guide. This served to help determine needs for the budget year 2008-2009, as well as serve for a health and safety check. All areas were found to be in compliance at that time. In addition, the Building Principals, the Supervisor of Buildings and Grounds, and Head Custodians conduct monthly inspections. (See Attachment L)

VI. STATUS OF MANDATED PROGRAM REVIEWS [N.J.A.C. 6A:32-14]

A. COMPREHENSIVE EQUITY PLAN (CEP) [N.J.A.C. 6A:7-1.9]

The Glen Ridge School District’s Comprehensive Equity Plan (CEP) for 2007-2010 was submitted and approved on May 23, 2007. It identified multi-cultural awareness as well as sensitivity to issues of prejudice on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, gender, ancestry, national origin, sexual orientation or socio-economic status as part of the district’s curricular objectives. The Comprehensive Equity Plan General Information Statement of Assurances and Certification Form was Board approved on March 5, 2007. The Board of Education also appointed the district's Affirmative Action Officer for the 2007-2008 school year on April 30, 2007 as per the Statement of Assurance dated April 8, 2008. (See Attachment M)

During the 2007-2008 school year, the Glen Ridge Board of Education continued to provide in-service training to its staff in the area of affirmative action regarding their behavior and the curriculum.

B. BILINGUAL EDUCATION, ENGLISH AS A SECOND LANGUAGE SERVICE [N.J.A.C. 6A:15]

The District’s 2008-2011 Bilingual/English as a Second Language (ESL)/English Language Services (ELS) Three-Year Program Plan was approved on July 14, 2008. (See Attachment N)

C. EARLY CHILDHOOD PROGRAM AID PLANS [N.J.A.C. 6A:24-3.4]

Not Applicable

D. DEMONSTRABLY EFFECTIVE PROGRAM AID PLANS [N.J.A.C 6A:24]

Not Applicable

E. SPECIAL EDUCATION [N.J.A.C. 6A:14]

· The District will begin Special Education Self-Assessment during the 2008-2009 school year.

· Special Education Program Monitoring - January 27-29, 2003: The district was commended for “the exceptionally comprehensive review conducted during the self-assessment process. The district is further commended for the numerous areas determined compliant by the district and verified by the Office of Special Education Programs."

· Improvement Plan Approval: May 6, 2003 (See Attachment O)

The district’s improvement plan received final approval. The district will continue to implement the plan in its entirety to meet goals as per plan timeline.

F. DISTRICT TECHNOLOGY PLAN [N.J.A.C. 18A-7F-22]

The district’s three-year technology plan (2007-2010) was approved on May 11, 2007. (See Attachment P)

Status for the 2006-2007 School Year: During the 2006-2007 school year, the technology committee met to write the 2007-2010 Glen Ridge Public School District Technology Plan. The technology committee is comprised of administrators, teacher representatives from every level, and technology technicians. The plan was approved by the Glen Ridge Board of Education on April 9, 2007.

Education Technology Plan for New Jersey – New Jersey Department of Education Goals:

All students, no matter which district or school they attend, will be able to achieve the Core Curriculum Content Standards because they will have unlimited access to people, to a vast array of curriculum and instruction, and to information and ideas -- no matter where they exist.

-- This Belief Statement is the ultimate goal of all
New Jersey Educational Technology programs and grants.

Goal 1: Students will attain the educational technology and information literacy skills that will assist them in achieving the Core Curriculum Content Standards and to succeed in the workplace of the 21^st century.

Goal 2: Educators will attain the skills and knowledge necessary to effectively use educational technology to assist students to achieve the Core Curriculum Content Standards.

Goal 3: Students, teachers, and administrators will have access to educational technology in all learning environments, including classrooms, media centers, schools, and other educational settings, such as community centers.

Goal 4: New Jersey school districts will establish and maintain the technology infrastructure necessary for students and educators to access electronic information and to communicate freely via technology.

The Glen Ridge Public Schools adopted the New Jersey Department of Education Technology Goals for our own district.

The status/evaluation/benefits/outcomes of these goals from 2004-2007:

Goal 1:

Students continue to learn educational technology and information literacy skills across the curriculum in grades PreK-12. These skills will assist them in achieving the Core Curriculum Content Standards and to succeed in the workplace. Technology grade level standards have been implemented in grades 3 – 8 through building/course technology standards. This goal needs to continue for 2007-2010.

Goal 2:

Educators continue to use and learn educational technology skills to assist their students to achieve. Many technology staff development opportunities have been given to staff and will continue in the upcoming years. This goal should be continued for 2007-2010.

Goal 3:

Students, teachers, and administrators continue to have access to educational technology in all learning environments. In the past three years, the Glen Ridge School District has obtained 4 wireless computer laptop portable labs, a telephone in every Glen Ridge school classroom, updated auditorium and multiple classrooms with presentation capabilities, updated website to include teacher created classroom web pages, and PDA technology for emergency database access for administrators. This goal should be continued and expanded where necessary. Technology has been expanded in the area of guidance recently. We have purchased the Naviance software to aid students, parents, and guidance counselors in the college process.

Goal 4:

Glen Ridge technology continues to be upgraded and replaced as needed. The infrastructure has been constantly updated (server replacement schedule) as necessary for students and teachers to access electronic information. A wireless connection between Glen Ridge High School and Ridgewood Avenue School has provided the means to keep all servers housed at one location, creating a more efficient WAN environment. Redundant DSL service is in place should a global outage occur in an emergency. An additional T1 line was added to accommodate the increased bandwidth required to expand technology integration. An emergency call back system was implemented throughout the district. This goal should be continued and research conducted to provide the best bandwidth for the educational and administrative needs of the district.

G. DISCRETIONARY AND ENTITLEMENT GRANT PROGRAMS - FY 2008 [N.J.S.A. 18A:71-11]

· NCLB

Federal funding, including the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) grant for Fiscal Year 2008, was expended on comprehensive professional development activities including, but not limited to: in-service workshops, state sponsored workshops and conferences, national conferences, mentoring and training for the implementation of the Study Island software for students scoring partially proficient on the NJ ASK 8. Staff also utilized research based character education teaching models to develop a district curriculum to enhance positive behavior.

· IDEA

Federal funding, including the IDEA Basic and Pre-school grants for Fiscal Year 2008, was expended on direct services to students including funding of a secondary special education coordinator, tuition for out-of-district placements, instructional supplies, comprehensive professional development, and educational consultants.

VII. COMMUNITY SUPPORT [N.J.A.C. 6:32-12.1(d)]

A. Demographic Data:

The Board authorized updating our demographic data in the 1998-1999 school year. Feitlowitz and Associates conducted a full demographic study. This was presented to the Board and public at a public Board meeting. A subsequent door-to-door census was taken with an 87% return rate, which validated the Feitlowitz study. In order to submit the Long-Range Facility Plan, Lenny Elowitz, former Superintendent of Schools in Bloomfield, New Jersey, conducted another census in the fall of 2000. The next demographic study is scheduled to take place during the 2008-2009 school year. This information is contained in our Long-Range Facility Plan which was submitted October 2005.

B. Community Survey:

During the spring of 2005, the Board of Education conducted an on-line community survey receiving close to 600 responses. (We conducted the web-based community survey during the 2004-2005 school year.) The information gathered assisted the district to plan for future needs of the community and school district. We anticipate conducting another survey prior to 2012.

C. Resources and Links to Social Service Agencies:

The Glen Ridge Board of Education maintains a positive relationship with state, county and local social service agencies. The borough maintains the athletic and recreation fields, and has expanded program opportunities for the community. The borough has a full-time recreation director who focuses on after-school and summer programming for the youth of the borough. The school district has a Childcare program offering before and after school childcare for parents with children in grades PreK-6. Community members have established the Glen Ridge Educational Foundation to encourage and support innovative programs and services within the school district, which includes the installation and upgrades of a Synergistics Technology Lab, a World Language Lab, a CAD Lab, Communications Studio, Pathways Lab and Leveled Reading Libraries, MIDI Lab as well as the renovation of the Ridgewood Avenue School auditorium, to name a few items. In addition, the foundation also provides all teachers with “innovation grant” opportunities for innovative programs. The district is an active participant in the Glen Ridge Municipal Alliance Committee (MAC), which fosters collaboration between the district and the borough and provides a funding source for alcohol-free activities and character education opportunities, such as Peer Leadership and Social Decision Making curriculum at the elementary level. Local service clubs, the Home and School Associations and Glen Ridge Athletic Association support instructional and co-curricular programs, donate supplies and equipment, and provide scholarships to our graduating seniors. Additionally, there is an Alternative Funding Committee that raises funds to assist funding district maintenance projects that could not be included in the district budget.

D. Community Environmental Conditions:

The Glen Ridge Board of Education has identified reductions in the level of state aid for education and demographic projections indicating continual increasing trends in student enrollment and resource utilization as environmental factors that could limit programs and services. Even with securing more grant money than ever before, the funding of the Glen Ridge Schools continues to be an increasingly difficult task for the taxpayers of this borough. This has a direct impact on local property taxes and, despite active petitioning of local and state lawmakers, the strategies have not dramatically changed the tax rate even though alternative funding has increased. The continuation of a high quality school system is going to be dependent on finding ways to reduce taxes, while increasing the total amount of the budget due to increased enrollment.

E. Barrier to Community Involvement:

Not applicable.

F. Community Involvement:

The Glen Ridge Board of Education is committed to involving the community at large in the information and decision-making process of the school district. The Superintendent distributes monthly post Board meeting FYIs to the community stating what took place at the Board meetings, as well as quarterly newsletters to the entire community, and special newsletters distributed at budget time. The Board of Education conducts monthly “Coffee and Conversation” sessions at the Glen Ridge train station/senior center for community members to drop by and discuss issues with Board members. Additionally, we use e-mail distribution lists to get information out to the public about school and community happenings. Throughout the school year, the public is invited to participate in numerous school activities. These activities include, but are not limited to, high school theatrical productions, inter-generational activities at the school, monthly senior citizens’ luncheons, school visitations, and discount tickets to sporting events for our senior citizens. Regular meetings take place between the central administration of the district and the Borough administration to assist in communication and support each other in the pursuit of collaborative and individual projects. The Glen Ridge Municipal Alliance Committee (MAC) meets monthly and is attended by the Superintendent, the Building Principals, the Student Assistance Counselor and additional district staff. These activities occurred during the 2007-2008 school year and will continue during the 2008-2009 school year. The two local Glen Ridge Papers give extensive coverage to the schools, allowing the community to know what is being achieved by the students and the schools.

G. Parental Involvement:

During the 2007-2008 school year, planned activities for community involvement in the school community included new parent activities, monthly Home and School Association meetings, Back-to-School Nights, formal parent-teacher conferences in the evening and after school, a special education advisory committee (Glen Ridge Association for Special Education), the athletic Booster Club, the Band Parents Organization, the Art Patrons Group, the Theater Parents Group, the Parents Supporting Parents Group sponsored by MAC, grade level meetings, monthly Board of Education meetings, public budget presentations, student awards assemblies, Showcases of Success, interscholastic athletics, band competitions, fundraisers, Project Graduation, financial aid planning workshops, college planning workshops, Guidance Department Grade Level Parent Breakfasts, Town Government Day, Student Government Day, senior citizens’ luncheons, school exhibits, performances. All of these activities, events, and programs are heavily attended and show a high degree of community participation.

It is through parent and community involvement in our school system and borough that helps secure an outstanding educational program for our students.

VIII. ASSIGNMENT PLAN FOR CERTIFIED AND NONCERTIFIED NURSES [N.J.A.C. 6A:16-2.1(b) and N.J.A.C. 6:32-12.1(a)10]

All of our nurses are certified as School Nurse/Health Educator. The high school nurse does not teach Health. The school nurse assignments for 2007-2008 were approved by voice vote on April 30, 2007 at our annual re-organization meeting of the Board of Education. The 2007-2008 Nursing Plan was approved at our annual re-organization meeting of the Board of Education on April 30, 2007. (See Attachment Q)

IX. SUBSTANCE ABUSE PREVENTION PROGRAM [N.J.A.C. 6A:16-3]

All students learn the physical, mental, emotional, and social effects of the use and abuse of alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs in health classes in grades Pre-K through 12 as well as during special programs throughout the school year. The plan was approved by voice vote on April 30, 2007 at our annual re-organization meeting of the Board of Education. The district has a low incidence level of in-school substance abuse as indicated on the Violence and Vandalism Report. We continue to work with the community to assist them in curbing the incidence rate that occurs after school hours and off school grounds. (See Attachment R)

X. VIOLENCE AND VANDALISM REPORTING [N.J.A.C. 6A:16-5.3]

A. The 2007-2008 Violence and Vandalism Report was reported to the public on October 13, 2008 and submitted to the State using the Electronic Violence and Vandalism Reporting System (EVVRS). (See Attachment S)

B. Public hearing statement (See Attachment S)

C. Violence and Vandalism Report was approved by the Board of Education on October 13, 2008. (See Attachment S)

XI. EMERGENCY AND CRISIS MANAGEMENT PLANS [ N.J.A.C. 6A:16-5.1]

All school buildings within the district have Emergency Response Plans as well as Inter-Agency Plans with the Glen Ridge Police Department. These plans are reviewed yearly and district employees are trained and re-trained yearly. During the 2007-2008 school year, the plans were revised. The Board of Education is kept informed of any changes in the Prosecutor’s Memorandum of Agreement and approved the Prosecutor’s Uniform Memorandum of Agreement at the meeting held on December 10, 2007. (See Attachment T)

XII. ALTERNATIVE EDUCATION PROGRAMS [N.J.A.C. 6A:16-9]

Not applicable.

XIII. STATEMENT OF ASSURANCE

A. Signed District Statement of Assurance by Chief School Administrator [N.J.A.C. 6:8-2.2, N.J.A.C. 6A:8-4.4(a), N.J.A.C. 6A:8-3.1, N.J.A.C. 6:29-6] (See Attachment U)

B. Signed Building Level Statement of Assurances for each school building by each building principal [N.J.A.C. 6:8-2.2, N.J.A.C. 6A:8-4.4(b)] (See Attachment V)